Talks (Page 12)
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Talks (Page 12)

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I am a Created Person || Who Am I? || Genesis 2:4-7

This week begins a new series, running through the next 10 weeks, asking the questions “Who Am I?”. Throughout this series, we’ll be looking at passages from the entire story of the Bible, beginning this week with creation in Genesis. Fundamentally, wh…

Summer Stories || Biblical Storytelling

Throughout January, the talks at St John’s have taken a different format to usual, meaning they haven’t been appropriate for the format of a podcast. In this episode, Andy and Tim chat about what the teaching has been in January, and will catch you up …

Come & See || Rosemary & Andrew

Like Sam Johnson, who’s excited about his train set, and wants to show his dad, Andrew and Rosemary invite us to come and see how Jesus has been at work in their lives. Coming from two very different life experiences – Andrew a staunch atheist, and Ros…

Come & See || Chais & Phil

When we find something really good, like an exceptional bowl of strawberries and ice cream, we feel compelled to tell others about it, and to get them to try it for themselves. In the same way, we’re inviting you to Come & See how good a relationship w…

The Church On Mission || Supper & Power || Acts 20:1-12

 In a story which includes someone being raised from the dead, you’d imagine that would be the focal point- the highlight of the story. In this passage of Acts though, this act of raising a young man from the dead is not prioritised, and instead, the a…

The Church On Mission || Idols & Riots || Acts 19:23-41

This passage in Acts is real history, with real people, and real events in time – a good reminder that the bible is about real people, and it is a historical account. But what do we do with this story? How do we learn from it and what can we take away …

Strangers || PS You Are Loved || Psalm 23

We’ve finished working through the first letter Peter wrote to early Christians in the first century, and this week, Julie brings us a “P.S.”, reminding us all that God loves us. Psalm 23 describes God as our Shepherd, and Julie looks at four things we…

Strangers || Humility || 1 Peter 5:1-7

Finishing off this first-century letter to early Christians, Peter addresses the’elders’ of the communities he is writing to; that is, the senior leaders of the church. He gives them three tips for good leadership within the Church, which can be easily translated to any leadership positions. Peter then addresses people in positions of ‘followers’, under someone else’s leadership. Essentially, Peter says to lead and be led with humility. Kirk explores humility for leaders, and humility for followers in the final talk in our Strangers: Far From Home series.

Strangers || Eternal Perspective || 1 Peter 4:1-19

As Megan delivers her final talk at St John’s after filling in during Tim’s leave, she shows off her Latin vocabulary and looks at the phrase sub specie aeternitatis, meaning “from the perspective of eternity”. Peter uses this section of his letter to first-century Christians to lift our eyes to the reality of eternity – the present reality of suffering can make our lives difficult, but we must live in the light of eternity and things to come. Peter writes about ways people in the first century lived in the day-to-day, debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, detestable wild living – and while they might not be a part of our day-to-day focus, there are still signs of living for today. If time is short, maximising the amount of pleasure in your life might be making sure you have the best clothes, that your money is secure, that your own personal success is guaranteed. Having the perspective of God, from an eternal point of view, can help us pe […]

Strangers || Suffer for Doing Good || 1 Peter 3:8-22

Continuing our look through Peter’s letter to first-century Christians, scattered throughout the Roman Empire, Peter addresses a people who are beginning to be persecuted for their faith. Within a few years of this letter being written, Christianity is outlawed throughout the Roman world, and Christians are arrested for their faith.  Sam explores what happens when Christians suffer for doing good, and sees how Peter shows that they are blessed for their suffering, that suffering exercises their hope, and that Christians participate in suffering with Jesus- just as he suffered for us.

Strangers || Missional Respect || 1 Peter 2:13-3:7

Grappling with harder and weightier topics in the Bible together as we strengthen our community and our faith in God. Megan tackles Peter’s instructions to first-century Christian Slaves, Wives and Husbands to submit to authority. These early Christians were freed in their relationship with God, and welcomed into this new family – no Jew or Greek, Slave or Free, Male or Female. The identity of these people broke through previous barriers of their culture. How does Peter’s instruction to submit follow through to us in the 21st century? Megan looks at the trajectory which Jesus himself set the culture on, and where it is leading us today.

Strangers || Taking the Right Path || 1 Peter 2:11-12

How do you know how to take the right path in life? Sam explores these two verses from Peter’s letter to first century Christians, and how they show us which path we should take in our lives.  Should we walk the path of isolation, of assimilation, or of proclamation?

Strangers || Living Stones and Royal Priesthood || 1 Peter 2:1-10

Peter’s letter to churches scattered across the known world of the first century speaks to the identity of the recipients of the letter and reminds them that they are a chosen people – chosen by God. Julie looks deeply into the phrases used to identify these early Christians, and by extension, us today. Being called ‘living stones’, and a ‘royal priesthood’ isn’t something we easily relate to today, but 2000 years ago the context of the ancient world would have made these identities make more sense.

Strangers || Be Holy || 1 Peter 1:13-25

A 2000-year-old letter written by one of Jesus’ friends, 1 Peter presents the Christian life as a journey that we all go on – beginning when we decide to start our relationship with Jesus, and ending when we see him face-to-face. Peter gives us directions for this journey, and this week Kirk explores Peter telling Christians to “be holy”, by being obedient. Obedience has a pretty lame reputation in most contexts, but Kirk shows us how being obedient can be a very good thing.

Strangers || Waiting in Hope || 1 Peter 1:3-12

Peter’s letter to early churches scattered across the world speaks to people waiting in hope of something great to come. Though the people this letter was originally written to were facing trials and persecution, Peter encourages them that trials “…have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Megan explores waiting and how we are still waiting for Jesus. The experience of waiting is expected and purposeful for God’s people- we do not wait in the dark, but rather we wait with evidence.